Its São João...
By Nathaniel Nunes
The feast of St John the Baptist is celebrated on the 24th of June. It is one of the more popular feasts among Goans and is better known as São João to everyone in the state. A Holy Mass was offered in the morning in honour of the saint.
In the evening, this year it witnessed joyous celebration among the parishioners of Chicalim. Several extra-curricular activities were held in the church campus.
To take the celebrations up a notch, parishioners dressed in very colorful clothes and sported crowns called “Kopel". These crowns are made of fresh flowers and fruit strung together with leaves and were worn throughout the day’s festivities. There was plenty of singing, dancing and games.
The enthusiastic revellers getting ready with their Kopels
One of the many games in progress
A large stock of fruits which are an integral part of São João celebrations was at hand with baskets of fruit especially Jackfruit, Pineapples and Bananas being the favourite
Typical local fruits
Rainless dance